Graphic Communication A.A.A. Curriculum Code: 1533 Effective: Fall 2021 – Summer 2026

Description A graphic designer is an artist/communicator who creatively and effectively designs informational or promotional materials for output in print, web and/or a variety of mass media situations. Artistic skills related to producing effective visual information are essential for a graphic designer. An understanding of the principles of typography, color theory, computer graphic applications, web design, and pre-press techniques is necessary. Graphic designers are employed by design studios, advertising agencies, printing companies, publishers, newspapers, sign companies, and businesses that generate their own publications. Not all courses in this program transfer to all colleges. Students planning to transfer should see an academic advisor before enrolling in any course.

Additional Information Students in this program choose either the Graphic Design or Web Design subspecialty pathway to determine the courses to take each semester. Upon completion of a subspecialty, any additional subspecialty courses will not count toward the student’s enrollment level for determining financial aid eligibility.

Contact Information Contact the Communication, Media and the Arts Department, Gannon Building, Room 1222, telephone number 517-483-1546 or the Academic Advising Department, Gannon Building – StarZone, telephone number 517-483-1904.

General Education – Applied Degrees, Recommended Courses (For the full list of options, see General Education)  English Composition or Applied English – Select one ENGL 121, Composition I, 4 credits / 4 billing hours ENGL 131, Honors Composition I, 4 credits / 4 billing hours

 English (second course)/Communications or Applied Communications – Select one COMM 110, Communication in the Workplace, 3 credits / 3 billing hours COMM 120, Dynamics of Communication, 3 credits / 3 billing hours COMM 130, Fundamentals Public Speaking, 3 credits / 3 billing hours

 Humanities and Fine Arts or Social Sciences or Applied Social Sciences Program of Study Required Courses will fulfill this requirement

 Mathematics or Applied Mathematics – Select one MATH 118, The Art of Geometry, 3 credits / 4 billing hours

1  Natural Sciences Lab or Applied Science and Technology Lab – Select one ASTR 201, Introductory Astronomy, 4 credits / 5 billing hours BIOL 120, Environmental Science, 4 credits / 6 billing hours PHYS 120, The Art of Physics, 4 credits / 5 billing hours

Program of Study Required Courses Course Code Course Title Credit / Billing Hours ARTS 102 Design & Communication 3 / 4 ARTS 131 Drawing I 3 / 4 ARTS 151 Color and Design 3 / 4 ARTS 162 Type Communications 3 / 4 ARTS 164 Vector Drawing 3 / 4 ARTS 171 Adobe Photoshop 3 / 4 ARTS 173 Web Design I 3 / 4 ARTS 179 Web Design II 3 / 4 ARTS 195 Employ/Busn Issues for Artists 1 / 1 ARTS 229 Web Design III 3 / 4 ARTS 269 The Portfolio 2 / 2 ARTS 281 Art Internship 3 / 3

Program of Study Required Courses, Limited Choice – Select one Course Code Course Title Credit / Billing Hours ARTS 132 Figure Drawing 3 / 4 ARTS 153 Drawing II 3 / 4

Program of Study Required Courses for Graphic Design Subspecialty Course Code Course Title Credit / Billing Hours ARTS 175 Creative Design and Publishing 3 / 4 ARTS 183 Design Markets and Influences 3 / 3 ARTS 251 Graphic Design Communications 3 / 4 ARTS 252 Graphic Design Publications 3 / 4 ARTS 253 Graphic Design Branding 3 / 4

Program of Study Required Courses for Web Design Subspecialty Course Code Course Title Credit / Billing Hours ARTS 226 Storyboards & Animatics 3 / 4 ARTS 232 Comp Graphics/2-D Animation 3 / 4 CITD 120 SQL Concepts 3 / 3 CITW 185 Web Development PHP & MySQL 4 / 4

2 Total Credit Hours 63-65 credits / 77-82 billing hours

Recommended Course Sequence for Graphic Design Subspecialty Semester I Semester II ARTS 102 ARTS 132 or 153 ARTS 131 ARTS 164 ARTS 162 ARTS 173 ARTS 171 ARTS 175 ARTS 251

Semester III Semester IV Gen Ed – English Composition or Applied ARTS 151 English ARTS 179 Gen Ed – English Composition (second ARTS 252 course)/Communications or Applied ARTS 253 Communications Gen Ed – Mathematics or Applied Mathematics

Semester V (Fall) Gen Ed – Natural Sciences Lab or Applied Science and Technology Lab ARTS 183 ARTS 195 ARTS 229 ARTS 269 ARTS 281

Recommended Course Sequence for Web Design Subspecialty Semester I Semester II ARTS 102 Gen Ed – Mathematics or Applied Mathematics ARTS 131 ARTS 132 or 153 ARTS 162 ARTS 151 ARTS 164 ARTS 173 ARTS 171

Semester III Semester IV (Fall) Gen Ed – English Composition Gen Ed – English Composition (second course)/ Gen Ed – Natural Sciences Lab or Applied Communications or Applied Communications Science and Technology Lab ARTS 179 ARTS 195 CITD 120

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Semester V ARTS 226 ARTS 229 ARTS 232 ARTS 269 ARTS 281 CITW 185

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